A systematic review of randomised controlled trials assessing effectiveness of prosthetic and orthotic interventions.

BACKGROUND: Assistive products are items which allow older people and people with disabilities to be able to live a healthy, productive and dignified life. It has been estimated that approximately 1.5% of the world's population need a prosthesis or orthosis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to systematically identify and review the evidence from randomized controlled trials assessing effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of prosthetic and orthotic interventions. METHODS: Literature searches, completed in September 2015, were carried out in fourteen databases between years 1995 and 2015. The search results were independently screened by two reviewers. For the purpose of this manuscript, only randomized controlled trials which examined interventions using orthotic or prosthetic devices were selected for data extraction and synthesis. RESULTS: A total of 342 randomised controlled trials were identified (319 English language and 23 non-English language). Only 4 of these randomised controlled trials examined prosthetic interventions and the rest examined orthotic interventions. These orthotic interventions were categorised based on the medical conditions/injuries of the participants. From these studies, this review focused on the medical condition/injuries with the highest number of randomised controlled trials (osteoarthritis, fracture, stroke, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, anterior cruciate ligament, diabetic foot, rheumatoid and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankle sprain, cerebral palsy, lateral epicondylitis and low back pain). The included articles were assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Details of the clinical population examined, the type of orthotic/prosthetic intervention, the comparator/s and the outcome measures were extracted. Effect sizes and odds ratios were calculated for all outcome measures, where possible. CONCLUSIONS: At present, for prosthetic and orthotic interventions, the scientific literature does not provide sufficient high quality research to allow strong conclusions on their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness

Optical pH sensor based on spectral response of newly synthesized Schiff bases

In most of the common designs, pH optodes rely on weak acidic dyes whose dissociated and undissociated forms have different absorption or emission maximums. In this work the newly synthesized Schiff bases; NAP-bis(4-diaminobenzyliden)-1,2-cyclohexandiamine [I], NAP-bis(4-diaminobenzyliden)-1,2-ethanediamine [II] and 2,6-bis[(4-dimethylaminophenylimino)ethyl]pyridine [III], have been used for pH sensing in four different plasticized PVC matrices. The Schiff bases exhibited absorption and emission based optical responses to protons in the pH range of 3.0-7.8, and, therefore, can be used as an optical pH sensor for near neutral region of pH scale. The absorption and emission spectra were recorded by preparing thin films on a Mylar polyester support. Responses of the sensor slides were fully reversible within the dynamic range and the response time was approximately 3 min under batch conditions. All of the compositions exhibited a significant absorption based response to pH in immobilized form. Throughout spectroscopic studies, relative signal change of 79% has been achieved for sensor dye (1). In contrast to the weak emission peaks of (I) and (II), the sensor dye (III) exhibited a significant emission based response and is evaluated in a different category. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Optical pH sensor based on spectral response of newly synthesized Schiff bases

In most of the common designs, pH optodes rely on weak acidic dyes whose dissociated and undissociated forms have different absorption or emission maximums. In this work the newly synthesized Schiff bases; N , N '-bis(4-diaminobenzyliden)-1,2-cyclohexandiamine [I], N , N '-bis(4-diaminobenzyliden)-1,2-ethanediamine [II] and 2,6-bis[(4-dimethylaminophenylimino)ethyl]pyridine [III], have been used for pH sensing in four different plasticized PVC matrices. The Schiff bases exhibited absorption and emission based optical responses to protons in the pH range of 3.0-7.8, and, therefore, can be used as an optical pH sensor for near neutral region of pH scale. The absorption and emission spectra were recorded by preparing thin films on a Mylar polyester support. Responses of the sensor slides were fully reversible within the dynamic range and the response time was approximately 3 min under batch conditions. All of the compositions exhibited a significant absorption based response to pH in immobilized form. Throughout spectroscopic studies, relative signal change of 79% has been achieved for sensor dye (I). In contrast to the weak emission peaks of (I) and (II), the sensor dye (III) exhibited a significant emission based response and is evaluated in a different category. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Exercise induced bronchospasm in recreational athletes: Prevalence and effects on physical performance

Objective. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of exercise induced bronchospasm (EIB) in recreational athletes and the impact of EIB on physical performance. Methods: 214 male recreational athletes attending a physical education high school were enrolled in this study (age: 19.6± 1.3 year, height: 177.1 ± 5.6 cm, weight: 71.1 ± 5.8 kg). The athletes were asked to exercise for 8 min on a treadmill at 80% of their maximum heart rate (220-age) measured by a telemetry heart rate monitor. Following the exercise challenge, a spirometer was used for the spirometric tests. A subject was considered to have EIB, when the exercise-induced decrease in FEV1 was 15%, which is in accordance with existing guidelines. After this test 17 athletes were diagnosed with EIB, who composed the EIB group. 17 subjects randomly selected from non-EIB athletes were included into the control group. We subjected all athletes to the maximal exercise test 2 days following the submaximal test. Maximal cardiorespiratory data were continuously measured during the maximal test on the treadmill "breath by breath" with a metabolic analyzer. Results: We found that the point prevalence was 7.9% of EIB in recreational athletes. Maximal oxygen consumption, heart rate and maximal ventilation values were not significantly different between both groups (p>0.05). All Spirometrie values except pre-test FEV1 presented a statistically significant difference between EIB and control group (Table 5). FEV1, PEF and FVC values showed a statistically significant decrease following the Spirometric test (p≤0.001). To the contrary, these values represented a significant increase following the Spirometric test in the control group (FEV1: p≤0.05, PEF: p≤0.01, and FVC: p≤0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the aerobic capacity of recreational EIB athletes without any comcomitant disease is not adversely affected. The association between EIB and physical performance has to be investigated extensively in longitudinal studies

Psychological Determinants of Turkish Farmers’ Health and Safety Behaviors: An Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior

Background: Structural and behavioral factors are among the causes of occupational accidents in agriculture. The SACURIMA Cost network developed a questionnaire to measure the determinants of farmers’ safety behavior based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB). Extended TPB adds subjective norms, subjective control, physical barriers and safety culture to TPB. Objective: The aim of this study is to test the psychometric properties of the “Farmers Safety Behaviors questionnaire” developed by the SACURIMA Cost network. Methods: A Turkish version of the questionnaire was applied to 305 farmers producing six different agricultural products in Turkey. The tool consists of 64 items measuring the determinants of four risk-related behaviors (fall prevention, machine handling, chemical-pesticide use, and animal handling) in a single extended TPB model. Results: The alpha values for the six dimensions ranged from 0.69 to 0.89. The confirmatory factor analysis results for all dimensions were at acceptable levels (CFI range = 0.93–0.99; RMSEA range = 0.03–0.09). Four path models were used to test the behaviors and their predictors, and the results were found to be predictive. The criterion and known groups’ validity analyses results were sufficient. Conclusion: The “Farmers Safety Behaviors Questionnaire” is a valid and reliable tool to measure the determinants of occupational safety behaviors in Turkish farmers. © 2023 by the authors